UTRECHT 2026-06-15
Dutch travelog, part 6.5. Read part 6 here.
We arrived in Utrecht around 19:30. Mozzarella would be hosting us for the next two nights. We were to meet at the station, near his gate. Around 5 minutes later, I spotted him and waved. He smiled widely as he walked towards us and hugged us both.
We rode the escalator down to where the bus terminals were. M lives in a quaint neighborhood just outside of the city center; about a 10-minute bus ride away. My cousin lives in a modern high-rise building in Den Haag. We were about to experience the opposite.
The neighborhood has older and well-maintained apartments. Most of these were brick townhouses, and a peek into their windows told me that we were in a rather wealthy quarter.
M rented the attic floor of a townhouse, which belonged to his elderly friend who was also a music teacher. The first two floors were decorated beautifully in a classical way. M's area was a classic bachelor pad. XD Emilio, his cat, greeted us at the top of the stairs.
Emilio. What a cutiepie!
That evening, M cooked a delicious pasta alla norma. He's only a couple years older than us, but he reminds me of an eccentric artist from the 90s—a bit scatterbrained, strongly opinionated yet open-minded, and always ready with a history lesson (e.g., about the pasta).
The origins of pasta alla norma, according to Mozzarella
A chef was tasked to serve pasta at an opera. He learned that he did not have enough meat for everyone. What he did have was a surplus of eggplants. So he cooked it in a way where you couldn't tell that there wasn't meat in the dish. Everyone loved it, and the name is derived from the opera, "Norma," where it was first eaten.
After dinner, Daniel and M washed up and then played video games. M has an old harpsichord, which he had said he would tune before I arrive, but he never found the time. I didn't care, I played that sucker completely out of tune. I had wanted to record myself, but I was too tired that night and didn't even bring out my Osmo Pocket nor bothered to take any pictures. Plus, it wouldn't have sounded very nice. I kind of wish I took a picture, at least. Next time!
A realization
While unpacking and planning my Miffy-themed outfit for the following day, I realized my skirt was missing. Also, where were my pants?! I frantically texted R&S to confirm, and sure enough, they were still hanging behind the door of the guest room. Drats.
I once left a sweater behind when staying at friend's in London. I can't remember if he mailed it back to me, or if I picked it up the next time I went. But this wasn't one thing... it was two things! Two essential things. I have fewer bottoms than I do tops. I checked our flights back to Zürich. It wasn't until 15:20. That's actually plenty of time, considering it was only a 30-minute train ride from Den Haag.
I asked R&S if we could stop by Wednesday morning to pick it up. S said she would be home, so it would work out. "Now we can finally visit the soufflé pancake place," I told Daniel. He was delighted.